Challenges Faced by Indigenous People in Australia

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A Report on Indigenous People
Subject: Community Services
Affiliate Institution:
Tutor:
Date of Submission: 7/9/2018

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Introduction
Indigenous people exist in varied numbers throughout the world. The word indigenous in
itself describes individuals who have retained their place of birth and somewhat there history.
This individuals have stayed within their locale or dwelt in their country or place of origin for
hundreds of years or for a long period of time. Other terms are preferred in various places of the
world other than the use of the word indigenous. For instance in Australia, the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islanders is the preferred term. Within the United States and vicinity of Canada, the
preferred term for this group of individuals include the first nations to describe the Indians and
the Metis and Inuit populations that are found situated in Huawei (Anderson I, Crengle S,
Kamaka ML, Chen TH, Palafox N, Jackson-Pulver L., 2006).
These groups of Indigenous individuals have a shockingly similar way of life in most
cases and come with a longer lifetime compared to the non-indigenous groups. Most of the
indigenous groups dwell in seclusion or separate themselves from the general populations.
However, some of the indigenous groups such as the Aboriginal people have been found to
integrate themselves into the general populations. However, they are faced with many obstacles
in their quest to integrate themselves into the general population notwithstanding (Freemantle J,
Read A, de Klerk N, McAullay D, Anderson I, Stanley, 2006).
Challenges the indigenous people are likely to face in Australia
Human resource capacity and infrastructure is one of the many challenges experienced by
this Indigenous communities within the Australia in general. Major gaps exist in the health
information systems for Canada’s Aboriginal peoples (McDermott, R., O'Dea, K., Rowley, K.,
Knight, S., & Burgess, P, 1998; Smylie, 2008). This is in regard to universally accepted

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measures and sources of measurement as well as the process of development of measures that are
culturally relevant and acceptable. The issues of Jurisdiction and the exercise of the right of
sled-determination require the collaboration of authorities and health information agencies that
are available. The infrastructure that needs to be developed for the Aboriginal people is
tremendous and needs the inclusion of very many individuals within the health and infrastructure
development sector (Smylie, 2008; McDermott, R., O'Dea, K., Rowley, K., Knight, S., &
Burgess, P, 1998).
The need to have the indigenous people educated in various aspects such as medicine also
rises. There are as few as 10 to 20 individuals who have an Aboriginal ancestry who have had a
history of learning or education in such fields. Training in public health will be a necessity to be
included in their integration with the common people.
Poverty is yet another aspect the aboriginal people will have to deal with as they move to
their new location. Considering that Australia is above the third world countries in terms of
resources, the Islanders have to work harder to gain access to basic needs such as food and water
when they move into the Australia. The likely even that many of them move into the country
increases the population and completion for basic necessities such as food and water. As a results
of competition for basic necessities, poverty is bound to face them as they have fewer
opportunities of self-development due t to their history (Renwick, A. R., Robinson, C. J.,
Garnett, S. T., Leiper, I., Possingham, H. P., & Carwardine, J., 2017).
Cultural barriers with the general population may promote inequitable health access to
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Considering that the Aboriginal people poses a
different culture and way of treatment that has lasted for many decades, the disparity in the way
healthcare services are provided for the people is highly likely to occur. However, nurses are the